Kennedy's
experimental work for the same period included recording of
kinetophone subjects and changes lighting make the
figures stand out better movies. also inspected films."
Most Edison's workers were expected able to
carry out both research and everyday engineering. With
this experience behind them, his staff were able move the
battery rapidly from laboratory bench factory floor,
providing the speed and flexibility demanded the "old man. While the
chemical research progressed, Edison had his men design special
-purpose machines for each step battery production. This
work drew his staff's experience battery manufacture and
ore milling. typical
report A. Kennedy, experimenter assigned the motion
picture product, covers work film splicing machine, film
cement, and methods sealing film cans. designed a
rheostat for kinetophone road shows, and guide for lining up
the sprockets the machine with the aperture.I-31
the experimenters also evaluated the cost and availability of
its raw materials. Two promising combinations— one using
cadmium and another employing cobalt— were rejected because
these metals were too expensive use quantity. He
also emphasized economical manufacturing techniques. Since the storage battery required both powdered
nickel oxide and ore, Edison's men were able apply many
techniques used handling and processing crushed ore.M.^
.^ Edison
knew well that the commercial success his battery depended
on finding cheap and efficient electrochemical reaction
